iPhone 14 emergency SOS satellite messaging
 

Not sure if this is the right forum, so feel free to move. I've not seen mention of this elsewhere.

When you buy a new iPhone 14 you get two years free SOS satellite messaging service which currently operates in USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany and France. The service is likely to roll out to other countries in due course, but it's probably the more remote ones which HUBBers will be interested in.

When you call 999 or whatever the country emergency service number is, and you are out of reception, the iPhone will attempt to call via Globestar satellite to Apple's staffed emergency response service, where an operator will ask a series of questions about your circumstances and then send a message to the local emergency services.

Apparently the satellite service has already been 'used in the wild' and here's a news story about it.

Currently this function is pretty useless. But we will see more of those story`s where people will survice using their iphone. For my it is still no replacement, because it is just for emergency and not usable anywhere.

It has to be usable, currently you had to have an open sky, had to hold your phone a special way, direct them to specially to the sky. Probably you cant do that after an accident.

And it would be stupid to pass away on a remote track in Iceland just because the service has not yet been activated yet.

But in some years, it will make those two way satellite messengers and satphones obsolete. Because of technical progress it will be possible to provide that (full) service too in your smarphone / smartwatch.


With a two way satellite messenger you can write messenges too with your familliy, can update your blog, can provide livetracking, write and receive short messenges.

Surfy

For sure it is emergency use only, so if you want to chat with friends you need another solution, but in the meantime this one is free.

Here's another 'success' story after a vehicle fell 300 feet into a canyon.

For all travellers inside of the activated countrys it is maybe helpful. We will read more of those success storys.

We will not read about travellers who wasnt able to use the service, because the traveller wasnt able to fullfil the requirements (direction for the iphone at the satellites). They probably will pass away without a note.

We too will not read about travellers who was 10 miles away from the border and wasnt able to activate. So the feedback will be positive by design :D bier

I dont write it is useless. I just mention, that it is not an replacement for an emergency bacon who is able to send an alarm if you just are able to press a button. Who is able to provide a signal, independent of the country you are travelling on a world trip.

Surfy

doh so is it 'north' or 'south' ??? so glad I still have buckets of salt left from last year...:innocent:

You`re right jeiger!

But probably a reader was able to get my point anyway.

Surfy

always have emergency bacon, can't beat a good fry up in a bad situation:chef:

This can be a lifesaver. There are also apps that automatically call 911 when detecting certain movements.
Just remember to charge your phone. Dead phone cannot call for help.

May I contribute a bit of tit-bit knowledge?:smiliex: A dead phone CAN call for help.
So now you're wondering how- if the battery really is dead and you have no way of charging it (assuming your camel/4x4/moto's batteries are also totally fried and dead- all a bit unlikely but still- or that you are on foot with no power bank etc):

Prepare carefully - as you only have one shot at this- some tinder with thin twigs/dry grass etc gradually going up in size-
when you are ready, break out the battery, which is made of lithium, position the battery on your tinder and make a cut in the battery. It will burst into flame as soon as the air gets to the lithium and burn VERY vigorously-
You now have a fire to signal with.

Usual disclaimers apply- safety first and I'm not responsible for any injuries/damage if you do this.

P.S of course, this assumes you also have no method to light a fire- also unlikely. So you may want to save destroying your battery after all and charge it at the next Starbucks:blushing:
And if you are lucky enough to be travelling with TheWarden, you can cook your bacon sandwich! win-win! (or borrow his battery charger!)

It seems not to be the safest way to optain a fire. Not completely impossible - but unlikely.

Campfirestarting?
https://youtu.be/IaCEOu1dEqI?t=47

Tests with iPhone battery?
https://youtu.be/U3tbd2RBWDY

Abusing tutorial?
https://youtu.be/CHZK_k3CxRw

Guess, we had to forget the idea as a emergency firestarter :( Probably you had a backup plan to share?

Surfy

Qualcomms Snapdragon looks set to trump the apple offering with 2way messaging and sos on android devices

https://www.stuff.tv/hot-stuff/qualc...-more-devices/

Wow! That is a big deal for android!

Apple itself is using the Globalstar satellite service, and did pay a lot into the network now.

Surfy